Frederick for Frigga

Internationally-renowned and -awarded Filipino Designer Frederick Peralta is channeling his philosophy of positivism to Frigga, a brand of auspicious clothing and accessories by Filipina feng shui master Marites Allen.

The collaboration between these experts in their respective fields saw fruition on January 3 at Allen’s annual feng shui convention where she staged a fashion show to welcome Peralta’s creations. Presented were ready-to-wear attires carrying auspicious prints for the coming Year of the Fire Monkey, which commences on February 8.

At the launch, Allen expressed, “It is such an honor to be working with a very talented and passionate fashion designer like Frederick Peralta who has made outstanding contributions to the fashion industry. He has effectively captured the feel and the energy of the Frigga brand and introduced them into these new designs.”

With over three decades of experience, Peralta is the first Filipino to win the prestigious Grand Prix at the Internationale Creatures de Jeunes de Mode (Young International Designers Competition) in Paris in 1994. He is also the Philippine representative in the UNESCO-funded book High Fashion Around the World.

A day after the much-lauded feng shui affair, The Manila Times caught up with Peralta who shared his thoughts and feelings on working for Frigga.

First and foremost, he revealed that he personally believes in feng shui because he practices Science of the Mind and Matter (SOMM). He considers both practices quite similar.

“Because of SOMM, I always think of positivism in all aspects of designing. I do this because I want my clients not only to look good when they wear my clothes but also to feel good,” Peralta said, noting that this is what he is has channeled to Frigga.

The designer was also inspired by the fabrics Allen presented to him, which as he described “were breathing vibrant colors of red, blue, purple and green,” as well as bearing symbols of good luck via printed coins, wulou flowers, mystic knots and the double happiness sign.

“What I really love about these prints was that there was no hint of the color black. For me, these prints attract only good energies besides offering protection, good health, wealth, and happiness, among others,” Peralta enthused.

For her part, Allen, who is the first Filipina to be accredited by the International Feng Shui Association (IFSA), said in a statement, “You won’t see [these printed fabrics] anywhere because they have been exclusively made for Frigga by award-winning designers based in London.”

Investment dressing
Working around the feng shui-approved fabrics, Peralta decided to design “investment dressing” so that clients could maximize the clothes.

Asked to elaborate on the concept, he explained, “These clothes are timeless because the silhouettes are very wearable like the halter dresses and the pantsuits. Both the young and old can wear it, any time of the day and for any occasion too. Because the fabric is jersey, the clothes are also flexible so they could be packed easily, and also wash-and-wear.”

Because of these characteristics, Peralta added while the said collection is stylish, the pieces are also very practical.

Collaboration
Looking back, Peralta related how he and Allen found each other.

“It’s all thanks to our common friend Tessa Prieto Valdes who introduced us,” he revealed.

Immediately, Allen broached the idea of a collaboration, which Peralta easily agreed to.

He recalled, “I was elated. After all, she’s very credible in the world of feng shui. I am also honored to work with her because of her energy—good vibes lang [only]. Thankfully, she immediately fell in love with my designs when she saw them.”

It took the designer two months of preparation before his collection was previewed to the press in December, and finally, launched to the public in January. The clothes are now available at www.frigga.uk.

In parting, Peralta revealed that he has another collection for Frigga that is already in the works. Once ready, he promises it will be “bigger and better” as it will also carry lucky clothes and accessories for men as well as a wider range of sizes.

“We want to cater to all because everybody has the right to dress up with attitude,” concluded the designer.